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Epidemiology 2 (POPH90242)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is a core subject within the Master of Science (Epidemiology) and an elective within the Master of Public Health, the Master of Environment, and the Master of Biostatistics.
Epidemiology 2 is an in-depth exploration of research study design and development. Within this subject, students will learn contemporary approaches to designing studies for clinical and public health research and analysing their results.
Students will develop the skills to design and critique a variety of experimental and observational studies (cluster randomised controlled trials, randomised controlled trial variants, case control study variants and ecological studies). Complex causal diagrams will be introduced to assist with identifying confounders and assessing bias. Students learn how to apply quantitative bias analyses to quantify the direction and magnitude of bias in clinical and public health studies.
Additionally, the concept of a target trial will be introduced, and students will learn to apply this method in their future research. Alongside the target trial approach, students will learn the latest analytic strategies to control for confounding, including g-computation and inverse proportional weighting.
The subject will also cover the concept of effect-measure modification and how it differs from interaction, and its impact on external validity. By the end of the course, students will be able to estimate the potential effects of population and clinical interventions on a wider population.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students are expected to be able to:
- Judge the impact of effect measure modification on external validity and the implementation of population and clinical interventions
- Assess confounding and collider bias by creating causal diagrams
- Apply standardisation, inverse probability weighting and g-computation to control for confounding
- Apply quantitative bias techniques to quantify the direction and magnitude of bias
- Design experimental and observational epidemiological studies
- Critique experimental and observational epidemiological studies
Generic skills
- Utilisation of relevant software (Excel and Stata)
- Written communication skills
- Problem solving
- Working with uncertainty
- Analytic skills
- Applying concepts to practical scenarios
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
POPH90014 | Epidemiology 1 |
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
AND
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST90100 | Probability & Inference in Biostatistics | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
POPH90013 | Biostatistics |
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
POPH90146 Study Design in Epidemiology POPH90147 Epidemiology in Practice
Recommended background knowledge
Students are expected to be familiar with the statistical package Stata
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Quiz
| Week 4 | 20% |
Written Assignment
| Week 9 | 40% |
Written Assignment
| During the examination period | 40% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Melissa Russell Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Students need to purchase the Stata statistical software package Survey Design and Analysis Services Pty Ltd www.survey-design.com.au
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Biostatistics Course Master of Science (Epidemiology) Course Master of Epidemiology Course Master of Biostatistics Course Master of Public Health Major Tailored Specialisation Major Environment and Public Health Major Public Health Major Tailored Specialisation Major Tailored Specialisation Informal specialisation Epidemiology and Biostatistics - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 31 January 2024